Love of humanity

Philanthropists pour their ideas and love into Wayne County

Ryanne: This summer, the Wayne County Community Foundation had its first paid summer intern—a Wayne County student entering their senior year of high school. Our goal was to inspire a student to have a deeper understanding of philanthropy and potentially consider the nonprofit sector as a career path. 

This summer’s intern was Anna Brown, a Honesdale native attending Scranton Preparatory High School. She was an absolute joy to have in the office and in community and we have no doubt that she learned quite a bit from our team at the Foundation, and we also learned quite a bit from her! Read on to hear about her experience.

Anna: With my two years of Latin in high school, I have learned enough Greek to know that “phil” is “loving” and “anthrōpos” is “mankind.” This clearly formulates philanthropy—loving mankind. When I was younger, however, a philanthropist was simply a person who was rich. In my mind, I pictured a dark silhouette in a high-rise building, looking out over the city it bestows money upon when generosity strikes. Like Batman, but less benevolent and more pretentious. My excessive imagination saw one person. One change maker. One influence in a large community of regular people. 

I was wrong. 

Shaving away the imagery and connotation we have around “philanthropy” leaves its simple etymology, derived from Greek and Latin: loving mankind. And as luck would have it, everyone has the capacity to love another. No matter our walk of life, our role in family or community matters, our opinion or our character, we are all capable of loving others. Which means we all are capable of being philanthropists. 

During my time at the Wayne County Community Foundation, I have learned about funds, investments, nonprofits and more. There are always opportunities to ask questions about new information and listen to intriguing conversations. My favorite aspect, however, is the experience I gained working with the people of Wayne County. Through meetings, events and side conversations, I was able to connect with those passionate about our community and helping the people in it. I was inspired, I was excited, and to be completely honest, I was shocked. I previously had a limited view of our small town, but realizing how many people are pouring their ideas and love into Wayne County made me want to do the same. They are philanthropists, working together to support and grow our community. They are also normal people, working and living alongside everyone else.

Just as not all heroes wear capes, not all philanthropists give money. Time, knowledge, relationships and talent are only a few examples of invaluable resources that can be utilized for good. Wayne County is full of these resources, and I have experienced firsthand the positive impact they create. While the likelihood of a Wayne County member being Batman is low, I know we can all love mankind. We can all play a role in improving what we have, growing what could be, and striving for a better tomorrow. We can all be philanthropists. 

For more information about the Wayne County Community Foundation, visit www.waynefoundation.org.

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